A huge percentage of thefts involve insider knowledge. The larger the circle of people who know you have valuables, or worse – know exactly where those valuables are hidden- the greater the chance that information will be shared with a crook. The best policy is to share the details on where to find your stash with 1-2 people you trust and impress upon them the need for privacy. If thieves don’t know you have a precious metals stash, they are less likely to risk life and limb targeting your home at random.
A Quality Home Safe. Tried and true, a well-built home safe is always a good idea. Bolting it to the floor in a spot where it will be awkward for thieves to employ a prybar further improves security. Floor safes and wall safes hidden under a rug or behind a family photo are also very effective.
Decoy Stash. Put a modest, but believable, portion of your holding in a more obvious location to throw crooks off the scent of your primary cache. Consider storing a few coins in your gun-safe or a cheap firesafe. If those are found, criminals are likely to stop their search. And, if your home is invaded, you and your loved ones will have something ready to hand over.
Choose the Unlikely. Unless it is a decoy stash, don’t choose clichéd hiding locations. Under mattresses, sock drawers and master bedroom closets will be the first places searched. Here is a list of not-so-obvious hiding spots that work well:
- Paint cans in a garage cabinet – It’s a good idea to leave some paint in the can and package your metals to avoid rattling.
- Buried at least two feet in the ground inside a waterproof container.
- Your freezer – perhaps inside an emptied-out box of frozen food product.
- A stuffed animal in a box of old toys tucked away somewhere.
- Behind some insulation in your attic.
- On a bookshelf inside a clever book safe
False Pipes/Electrical Boxes. Install plumbing or an electrical junction box that appears functional. These pipes and boxes make ideal hiding spots – never garnering a second look from anyone. Just be sure to invest the time and care to make them look genuine.
And finally what we here at Colorado Vault & Safe Deposit Box Co. recommend:
Safe Deposit Box/Commercial Vault. We recommend everyone keep at least a portion of their silver and gold holding under direct personal control. Storage at home is the best way ensure 24-hour access and guarantee privacy. However, third-party storage in a safe deposit box or commercial vault can make sense for anyone who simply won’t be able to sleep at night with all their valuables at home.
And for very large holdings of precious metals, storage at one or more secure vault facilities outside your home is a practical must.